List of Ramsar sites in South Africa

This list of Ramsar sites in South Africa are wetland environs that are considered to be of international importance, and protected under the Ramsar Convention. As of 2024, South Africa has 30 such sites covering 574 028 hectares.

For a complete list of all Ramsar sites worldwide, see the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance.

List of Ramsar sites

Name	Location	Description	Area (km)	Designated
Barberspan	Delareyville 26°35′S 25°35′E / 26.583°S 25.583°E / -26.583; 25.583	A 5 km long and 2.5km wide, permanent, alkaline, freshwater lake, surrounded by grassland.	31.18	12/03/1975
Berg Estuary	Velddrif 32°51′S 18°15′E / 32.850°S 18.250°E / -32.850; 18.250	Wetland mudflat vegetation in a flood plain that contains 127 waterbird species.	11.63	01/02/2022
Blesbokspruit	Marievale Bird Sanctuary 26°18′S 28°30′E / 26.300°S 28.500°E / -26.300; 28.500	Permanently inundated section of the Blesbokspruit River. Important for several locally migrant waterbird species and various mammals.	18.58	02/10/1986
Bot - Kleinmond Estuarine System	Kleinmond 34°20′S 19°06′E / 34.333°S 19.100°E / -34.333; 19.100	An estuarine lake recognised as one of the ten most important wetlands for waterbirds in South Africa; 86 species have been recorded here. It's also a nursery for 41 species of fish.	13.50	31/01/2017
Dassen Island Nature Reserve	Dassen Island 33°25′S 018°05′E / 33.417°S 18.083°E / -33.417; 18.083	Important Bird Area for 10 of the 15 endemic sea birds in Southern Africa; including the critically endangered African penguin and Cape cormorant.	7.37	29/03/2019
De Berg Nature Reserve	Dullstroom 25°12′42″S 30°08′48″E / 25.21167°S 30.14667°E / -25.21167; 30.14667	A high-altitude catchment area along the Dwars River that includes diverse and endemic ecosystems types. Classified as a Critical Biodiversity Area for endangered species such as the grey crowned crane, black harrier and southern bald ibis.	12.65	02/02/2024
De Hoop Vlei	De Hoop Nature Reserve 34°27′S 020°23′E / 34.450°S 20.383°E / -34.450; 20.383		7.5	12/03/1975
De Mond	De Mond Nature Reserve 34°42′S 020°06′E / 34.700°S 20.100°E / -34.700; 20.100		9.18	02/10/1986
Dyer Island Nature Reserve Complex	Dyer Island / Geyser Island 34°41′S 019°24′E / 34.683°S 19.400°E / -34.683; 19.400		2.88	29/03/2019
False Bay Nature Reserve	Zeekoevlei 34°03′S 018°29′E / 34.050°S 18.483°E / -34.050; 18.483		15.42	02/02/2015
Ingula Nature Reserve	Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme 28°15′S 029°34′E / 28.250°S 29.567°E / -28.250; 29.567		80.84	01/03/2021
Kgaswane Mountain Reserve	25°43′S 027°12′E / 25.717°S 27.200°E / -25.717; 27.200		49.52	29/03/2019
Kosi Bay	Maputaland 27°01′S 032°49′E / 27.017°S 32.817°E / -27.017; 32.817		109.82	28/06/1991
Lake Sibaya	Maputaland 27°20′S 032°40′E / 27.333°S 32.667°E / -27.333; 32.667		77.50	28/06/1991
Langebaan Lagoon	Langebaan 33°09′S 018°04′E / 33.150°S 18.067°E / -33.150; 18.067		60.00	25/04/1988
Makuleke Wetlands	Kruger National Park 22°23′S 031°12′E / 22.383°S 31.200°E / -22.383; 31.200	Flood plain at confluence of the Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers that consists of riparian woodlands and floodplain grasslands. Important ecosystem for the vulnerable Mozambique tilapia, the critically endangered African longfin eel and white-backed vulture.	77.57	22/05/2007
Middelpunt Nature Reserve	Dullstroom 25°32′S 030°07′E / 25.533°S 30.117°E / -25.533; 30.117		5.10	15/03/2023
Natal Drakensberg Park	uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park 29°23′S 029°24′E / 29.383°S 29.400°E / -29.383; 29.400		2428.13	21/01/1997
Ndumo Game Reserve	Maputaland 26°52′S 032°15′E / 26.867°S 32.250°E / -26.867; 32.250		101.17	21/01/1997
Ntsikeni Nature Reserve	30°07′S 029°28′E / 30.117°S 29.467°E / -30.117; 29.467		92.00	02/02/2010
Nylsvley Nature Reserve	Mookgophong 24°38′S 028°41′E / 24.633°S 28.683°E / -24.633; 28.683		39.70	07/07/1998
Orange River Mouth	Alexander Bay 28°35′S 016°28′E / 28.583°S 16.467°E / -28.583; 16.467		20.00	28/06/1991
Prince Edward Islands	sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean 46°52′S 037°46′E / 46.867°S 37.767°E / -46.867; 37.767		375.00	22/05/2007
Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve	Memel 27°35′S 029°35′E / 27.583°S 29.583°E / -27.583; 29.583		47.54	21/01/1997
St. Lucia System	iSimangaliso Wetland Park 27°55′S 032°29′E / 27.917°S 32.483°E / -27.917; 32.483		1555.00	02/10/1986
Turtle Beaches / Coral Reefs of Tongaland	iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area 27°29′S 032°44′E / 27.483°S 32.733°E / -27.483; 32.733		395.00	02/10/1986
Verloren Valei Nature Reserve	Steenkampsberg, Mpumalanga 25°18′S 030°06′E / 25.300°S 30.100°E / -25.300; 30.100		58.91	16/10/2001
Verlorenvlei	Redelinghuys 32°20′S 018°25′E / 32.333°S 18.417°E / -32.333; 18.417		15.00	28/06/1991
Wilderness Lakes	Wilderness 33°59′S 022°40′E / 33.983°S 22.667°E / -33.983; 22.667		13.00	28/06/1991
uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve	29°29′S 029°49′E / 29.483°S 29.817°E / -29.483; 29.817		9.58	19/03/2013